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Forget megapixels, this is what you really need to know about smartphone cameras

Published Nov 15th, 2015 10:15AM EST

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What’s the most important thing in a smartphone camera? If you answered megapixels, you’ve been paying too much attention to marketing. Sure, the more megapixels a camera has, the more detail it’ll be able to offer when zooming in. But there are many other features of the mobile camera that matter to photo quality far more than megapixels count – which probably explains why Apple’s iPhone has managed to outperform competitors for years. In the meantime, the best Android devices rivaling the iPhone have gotten much better when it comes to camera performance, improving in several key areas such as overall picture quality and user experience. So what matters most about the smartphone camera?

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Respected YouTube gadget reviewer Marques Brownlee released a short video that explains the main features of a camera. The size of the pixels, the quality of the sensor and the aperture are some of the factors that impact overall camera performance. Electronic image stabilization (EIS) and optical image stabilization (OIS) are also important factors to consider.

Finally, there’s the software side of the camera, which can make or break photos and videos as well as the overall user experience.

Ultimately, Brownlee points out that it’s all about how you enjoy your smartphone camera, and whether you like the pictures and videos you take with it. Check out the full clip below.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.